Tammi, I don't know how I get such doozy machines. I think people must try to 'fix' them with a sledge hammer or something. I've seen some good Touch and Sew machines and some I hated. I think it depends on condition and model. I have one around here that is a real joy to use. I think a lot of it is whether or not the bobbin winder works right. If it doesn't the first thing to do is get a different bobbin and check it for flaws before using it.